Asset Builder Spotlight

July - 2007
With an English degree from Albright College in Pennsylvania, Ellen knows the importance of Asset #25, Reading for Pleasure. Her mother was a college professor and her dad was a chemist. “Reading was a high priority in their lives and they instilled that same value in me. I am now passing that value onto my children,” explained Ellen.

“I was an editor before I had children, so I have always had a passion for books, reading and writing,” said Ellen. She has a gifted child who reads 10 books a week. “He even taught himself how to play chess from a book,” said Ellen. “That is a skill that even I have not mastered!

“Reading with your children creates bonding, who can resist a good book and a lap?” asked Ellen who is a daycare provider.

“Our neighborhood is great place to have a home daycare business,” said Ellen. She takes the children to the park a couple times a week. One day they passed a retaining wall that had rocks balancing on it with painted faces. Obviously someone took the time to paint them and care to put them there. The children were so pleased by the rock people that Ellen left a note explaining how much her daycare children appreciated them.

“Well, to my surprise, the following day there was a note left for me and the daycare children, informing us that we could each pick out a rock person to have as our own,” said Ellen. The rock people were referred to as rock trolls. A short story of the legend of the rock trolls was also passed along in then note. The children absolutely adored their rock trolls. That whole experience really made Ellen appreciate the neighborhood of her home daycare where Asset #7, Community Values Youth, is demonstrated.

As a member of the Children First Asset Champions Network, Ellen has thought deliberately about asset building and involves her young charges in creating a Caring Neighborhood, Asset #4. Ellen got a copy of Search Institute’s book Playful Reading, which lists books and activities to go with them. With the children, she read Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch. Tying in with the book, the children made May Day baskets filled with candy and passed them out to her neighbors.

Ellen also appreciates that her home day care business allows her time to work on Asset #1, Family Support, with her own children. “I am able to give all three of my children support and love that comes directly from me while caring for other children as well” Ellen said.

Ellen is a caring mom and daycare provider who has many assets to provide to her community. Her daycare children and their parents have the security in knowing that Ellen is a safe, caring adult with many talents and achievements. She is a positive role model for all.

Written by Julie Meintsma.